Lahore:
The government has described major reforms on Sunday for Pakistani railways, including an imminent agreement on the Rohri -Karachi section, an allowance of 50 billion rupees to improve the track of Lahore – Rawalpindi, reducing the journey time to two hours and the digitization of the railway system.
The development came while the Minister of Railway Hanif Abbasi addressed the event “Meet The Press” at the Lahore Press Club.
Speaking on occasion, the Minister announced “scanning reforms” to modernize the sector, highlighting improvements such as outsourcing services in seven stations in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore, improving the quality of food and installing Wi-Fi for free at Lahore station.
He highlighted key infrastructure improvements, including an agreement that will soon be final for the Rohri-Karachi railway section and an allowance of 50 billion rupees by the chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, to improve the Lahore-Rawalpindi track, reducing travel time to two hours.
The mechanical staircases and information offices have been introduced in the stations, and a 105 -kilometer railway track for carbon transport should be completed by April 30, reducing electricity costs from RS15 to RS4.5 per unit. In addition, a business train with coaches equipped by Wi-Fi and high quality meals will be inaugurated on July 29 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Minister announced his intention to digitize the rail system, to link sixteen banks to the application of railways and to install automatic ticket distributors in 348 stations. To fight against ineffectures, three railway companies have been closed and long -standing employees would be recalled.
“Pakistan railways are the pride of Pakistan,” said Abbasi, promising to make him profitable if the federal government covers pensions and wages. He pointed out that the problems of railways result not from workers but from anonymous people who have looted the system.
He underlined the need to invest in railways to stimulate the national economy, warning that the main reforms are imminent and bureaucratic ineffections will not be tolerated.
Responding to job problems, Abbasi has revealed a compassionate approach to contract workers. “We could reject employees of the contract with a month’s salary, but instead, we plan to reassign the remediation staff in their local areas,” he shared, reporting a commitment to the well-being of employees.
The “SUTHRA PUNJAB” initiative will be extended to the railway colonies, aimed at improving the living conditions of staff and their families. Abbasi has also requested unprecedented improvements in cleanliness through the rail system, declaring: “The level of cleanliness that we have now reached in the railways has never been seen before.”
Catchering illegal activities, Abbasi has issued a severe warning against travel without tickets and related offenses. “Smuggling and theft have used railways. Now, anyone traveling without a ticket or help with such activities will face imprisonment,” he warned.
To strengthen security, Pakistan Railways has recruited 500 new staff members for the railway police and plans to acquire scanners and metal detectors using the ministry’s own budget.
